Christmas miracle: Gabriella's Snow Day Friday in Scotts Valley

SCOTTS VALLEY -- Four-year-old Gabriella Cosner, who has been fighting a rare form of childhood cancer since March, wanted snow for her birthday, and she's going to get it, thanks to a host of Christmas angels.

Gabriella's Snow Day, a benefit for Jacob's Heart Children's Cancer Support Services, will take place 2 to 5 p.m. Friday at Skypark at the end of Kings Village Road.

"It's really a neat thing the community comes together to make something happen," said Kristin Cosner, 36, Gabriella's mother.

The miracle started with two Seagate Technology employees, IT program manager Deb Loze and executive assistant Glenna Heller.

Loze was inspired by her 7-year-old granddaughter, who asked to have her hair cut off to help children losing theirs during cancer treatment.

She got involved in Team G's Cookies for Kids' Cancer Bake Sale in September, then started following the family's Team G blog. She noticed Kristin's post asking if anyone knew how to get a snow machine since Gabriella wanted snow for her birthday, which is on Dec. 24, Christmas Eve.

Because of Gabriella's illness, Kristin, a critical care nurse, and her husband Adam, a firefighter-paramedic, had not taken her or sister Bridget, 2 1/2, to see the snow last year.

When Loze mentioned Gabriella's request to Heller, she said, "Let's do it."

The two women teamed up with Jacob's Heart, a local nonprofit currently assisting 28 children with cancer, and began asking for contributions. In just 10 days, they collected $1,000.

One co-worker brought a gift from his 8-year-old: $31.

Heller asked her sweetheart, Aptos photographer Joaquin Menezes, her dentist, Dr. George Yellich, and Pat Perkins, a former Seagate co-worker active in Scotts Valley Rotary. All are pitching in.

As for the snow, the two women were thinking of buying a snow machine (cost: $3,000) and donating it to Jacob's Heart when they were told about Snow Night Dec. 6 in downtown Santa Cruz. Checking with the sponsor, the Downtown Association, they decided to drive in on their lunch hour to see if they could connect with the snow delivery service.

When they got there, they found no sign of snow. Disappointed, they stopped at Peet's to order coffee and map out their next move. They talked to the driver of a truck carrying cones to block off the street but he did not know the snow vendor.

Then a man who had overheard them talking stepped forward to say, "It's me."

That man, Mike Humphries of Arctic Glacier Ice of Fremont, told them people book snow years in advance and it was unlikely the date they wanted would be available. But when he called his office, he learned he was wrong.

"You know, that date is available," he said.

His crew will crush and blow 5 tons of ice to make snow for Gabriella's Snow Day.

"The whole project has been like that," said Loze.

Scarborough Ace Hardware is donating four sleds.

"I watched my cousin go through a year of treatment," said manager Mikala Scarborough Clements. "He's 3, he's in remission."

Surf City Coffee is donating hot chocolate, and Newman's Own and Pacific Cookie Co. are donating treats. Erik's DeliCafe is helping, so is Dori Stier from Riverview Catering in Ben Lomond. Jackie Maurer, a volunteer for the American Cancer Society, is donating bald dolls from Bratz and Moxie for children in cancer treatment.

"There is so little funding that goes to childhood cancer research," Loze said. "More needs to be done."

Heller, who met Gabriella for the first time last week, was impressed by her no-complaints attitude.

"If there is any upside to this disease, it's how it unites us and brings us joy," she said.

WHAT: Play in the snow and raise money for children's cancer research in honor of Gabriella Cosner's 5th birthday; hot chocolate, cookies and Santa Claus. Because immuno-compromised children will participate, ill children are asked to stay home.WHEN: 2 to 5 p.m. Friday WHERE: Skypark, at the end of Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley.COST: Free, but donations requested to Jacob's Heart.INFORMATION: GabriellaCosner.blogspot.com